P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps copycat recipe tastes just like the restaurant’s version, but are made a lot healthier, and gluten-free, at home!
So I failed to tell you the entire culinary story of Ben’s and my Vegas Vacation…
Our first night there, feeling brave after a rather large can of Sapporo, we each dove face first into a Pinks Hotdog, whose newly opened location was strategically placed right outside our hotel. A Classic Dog for him, and a Rueben Dog for her. I know.
Whatever. One bite of the snappy casing, sour ‘kraut and salty pastrami and it was lights out. When in Vegas!
The other meal I failed to mention took place late one night after returning home from sipping cocktails and shooting craps at the casinos. I had previously turned up my nose to the P.F. Chang’s located in the lobby of our hotel, preferring to dine at non-chain restaurants for all major-meals while on vacation. But as I looked at the clock, I came to realize that it certainly wasn’t a major-meal hour of the day morning, and the smell wafting from the restaurant’s open doors smelled too good to resist.
Bring on the chain restaurant – and the Lettuce Wraps – whee!
P.F.Chang’s Lettuce Wraps – I am telling you – salty, greasy, PERFECT. If you’ve ever had them, I bet you’ll agree. But sometimes they can be a little too greasy, know what I mean?
That’s why I decided to recreate.
P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps
Description
P.F. Chang's Lettuce Wraps copycat recipe tastes just like the restaurant's version, but are made a lot healthier, and gluten-free - at home!
Ingredients
- 1lb ground chicken breast
- 1/2 onion, minced
- salt & pepper
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1" knob ginger, peeled & minced
- 2-1/2 Tablespoons gluten-free Tamari or soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 Tablespoon peanut butter
- 1/2 Tablespoon water
- 1/2 Tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce (or more if you like it hotter)
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1/2-8oz can sliced water chestnuts, drained & chopped
- 1/4 cup peanuts, chopped
- 10-12 large outer lettuce leaves, rinsed and patted dry
Directions
- Heat a large, non-stick skillet on high. Add chicken, onion, salt & pepper, then cook until chicken is nearly done, stirring often to break up the meat. Add garlic and ginger then continue cooking until chicken is no longer pink.
- Meanwhile, in a microwave safe bowl, combine gluten-free Tamari or soy sauce, rice vinegar, oil, peanut butter, water, honey, chili garlic sauce and pepper. Microwave for 20 seconds, then stir until smooth. Add into the skillet and stir to combine.
- Add green onions and water chestnuts into the skillet then cook for 1-2 minutes until the onions are soft and the water chestnuts are heated through.
- Sprinkle with chopped peanuts, and serve with cold lettuce leaves.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I die. I die for this dish! It is FANtastic, and so much lighter than PFC’s!
Salty, crunchy and crispy – fun too! Simply pile the chicken mixture onto a lettuce leaf,
roll,
and chomp. AWESOME. The fuller you stuff ’em, the better, too. My first wrap was kind of weak sauce, so I really jammed the filling in with the others. Much better. You have to make these!
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I just read about Duff’s involvement in ice cream in the most recent Food Network Magazine. I got giddy with excitement and will be searching high and low for one of his varieties next time I’m at the store!
I love PF Chang’s lettuce wraps!! AND this is post is another reason I love following your blog. You have a gift with taking the not-so-healthy (read: DELICIOUS!) things out there and making them better! I can’t wait to try it!! Oh and PS- if you haven’t tried the Red Velvet Cake ice cream- it is DELISH! It’s in my top 5 for sure! :) Happy cooking/creating!
I want some of that ice cream! Red velvet cake ice cream–what a great idea!!
Not a big fan of chains, myself! If I had to pick one, it’d be Bertucci’s. I’m not huge on the PFC’s lettuce wraps. I prefer my own anyway. I don’t see what the big deal is about theirs? But most people disagree with me! Totally agree- I always add water chesnuts to any Asian dish for that extra crunch. The texture is unbeatable.
THat new flavor of ice cream sounds amazing!! Please let me know how it is. :)
I love your blog! It’s so cute. I can not wait to try the lettuce wraps. It’s also a great way to get my boyfriend to eat more veggies :) (he’s from Iowa btw). Ashley
I need to find all of these fabulous new Blue Bunny products! Wedding cake ice cream!?!? Yes, please!
Red Lobster (cheddar biscuits are to die for) and Outback Steakhouse
PFC’s lettuce wraps are THE BEST!!! YUM!
i’m gonna have to try this! :)
now i’m going to be thinking about lettuce wraps all night!
looks great! though i don’t think i’ve ever considered pf chang’s lettuce wraps to be greasy… hmm but i’ve only been a couple times so who knows? can’t wait to make this for my husband anyway because he is obsessed! :)
I LOVE the lettuce wraps at P.F. Changs, I SO need to make these. Like, right now. :)
I like On The Border. I go about once a month with a friend for sangria, margaritas, and Guacamole Live! It’s always so festive in there.
My hubby is WAY excited about this recipe. He is completely obsessed with P.F. Changs and his parents send us a giftcard for every.single.holiday.birthday……
I’m a sucker for the chicken florentine salad at Macaroni Grille. Such a great combo of flavors. If you ever feel like lightening that one up, that would be outstanding!
The only sit down chain restaurant I really like is Olive Garden. I don’t like any of the ones like Ruby Tuesday, Fridays, etc. I just can’t ever find anything I like on the menu. My favorite chain restaurant in general is Boston Market. Yum!!
Oh that is easy!
OLIVE GARDEN!!!!
Hands down!
totally wrong but hooters…..oh their wings are just perfectly greasy and battered!
I LOVE Granite City – love love love it!
Lettuce wraps are a staple in our house — we add a lot of veggies to ours though — diced red and green pepper, mushroom (ok, so YOU can omit that! ha), shredded carrot and water chesnut (a must!) The mix includes almond or peanut butter, rice vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, lime and a bit of honey! Delish!
The P.F. Chang recipe looks absolutely delicious! I am going to be trying this out ASAP!
I’ve never had pf chang lettuce wraps, but I sure would like to try your recipe! It’s great to be able to recreate healthy versions of unhealthy recipes!
Chevy’s!
Oh my gosh, lettuce wraps and ice cream sandwiches…YUM. Ice cream sandwiches just may be the best dessert ever.
gotta go with Cheesecake Factory. FAV! especially in naples ,FL
Totally agree with Cheesecake Factory…and actually my favorite menu item is their Lettuce Wraps – chicken with thai peanut sauce and lo mein noodles with veggies! I make my own version at home all the time. I think Boston lettuce is the best for wraps.
I agree – Cheesecake Factory’s Lettuce Wraps are my FAV’S! And the best ice cream you can buy is BLUE BELL – Not Blue Bunny. Just sayin
Honestly, I think my all-time favorite chain is probably IHOP, but that’s because I have a thing for pancakes. For meals other than breakfast, I’d say Texas Roadhouse. I LOVE their Chicken Critters & their BBQ sauce!
It’s been 2.5 years since my husband and I have lived where they have chain restaurants….but we talk about missing Godfather’s, and I miss Pizza Ranch (but I’m the only one in my family that likes their pizza!), oh and Red Lobster…and we miss any kind of Chinese chain restaurant… honestly though, I’ll eat anywhere!
I LOVE PF Changs! They have the best food there! The Chicken Lettuce Wraps are my absolute favorite thing from there! I have been dying to recreate it but I had no idea where to start! Thank you SO much for posting this recipe! I cannot wait to try it!! :)
HMMM – Olive Garden – no ummmm – IHOP – no ummmm – oh who knows – oh – I know Bruegger’s Bagels – warm, soft – chewy bagels, freshly made (can you believe we live soooo close to NYC and have not had a real bagel?)
I’m afraid I have to comment – was that ICEBERG lettuce? oh my goodness – oh my goodness – whatever happened to the Romain, or Boston Bib or Red Leaf or SOMETHING with a little vitamins? (lol)
Those lettuce wraps look amazing, and yes, the ones at PF Chang’s ARE delish. Thanks for recreating them in a healthier way!
Genius! I always order those wraps when I’m there…. so delicious! Yours look identical. I love how you used water chestnuts, they are one of my favorite things to use in recipes, they add such wonderful crunch to recipes.
Great recipe – I love making wraps with leaves! SO stinking smart :)
What an awesome idea! I’m having some girls over this weekend to watch the Royal Wedding (I know…) and think I’ll make these. Did you use iceberg lettuce?
Ooo how fun! Yep – just plain iceburg!
It’s great to live in Iowa solely for the fact that we have Wells Blue Bunny ice cream… I tried the Red Velvet Cake ice cream over the weekend and it was certainly dangerous!!
As far as favorite chain restaurant, I have a serious addiction to Bravo! and their diavolo sauce. I put it on almost every dish I order because I like the spice! Their dipping oil is also super yum!
you went to Max Brenner and that is a chain!! ;)
Yum! For sure making these. With being gluten free now, it seems all delicious lettuce wraps at restaurants are not GF (not sure why?!), so it will be great to make them myself. Thanks for the recipe!
I’m still trying to figure out how they sent you ice cream in the mail.
Oh, and Carrabba’s Italian. Yum!
Dry ice! http://iowagirleats.com/2011/03/31/25-gift-card-salad-gift-basket-giveaway-fun-with-dried-ice/
I heart BJ’s Brewery – Pizza and beer my favorite combo!
I wish I could eat everything in this post! Your lettuce wraps look amazing and that red velvet ice cream sandwich?! What a great idea. I do not know how I would survive if Blue Bunny sent me a package of samples…
Fave chain restaurant: without a doubt – Chilis; give me unlimited chips and margaritas and I’m a happy girl :-)
I hate to say it but I’m kind of a snob when it comes to chains…however, I do really love California Pizza Kitchen!
YUM! I love PF Chang’s lettuce wraps – I have a recipe somewhere for the spicy sauce to put on top – if I find it I will send it to you!
(ps – long time reader – long time lurker – lol)
I love lettuce wraps and will try this recipe BUT I love the spicy sauce that Pei Wei (sp?) serves with there lettuce wraps. If anyone knows the recipe for Pei Wei spicy lettuce wrap sauce please post it.
TIA
I’ve always wondered how you get hooked up with companies to have them send you samples to try… care packages of ice cream!? I remember you talking about a company sending you fancy yogert to try.
I grew up 20 minutes from the ice cream capitol of the world(Le Mars, IA) and my hometown is the home of the original Pizza Ranch so I guess you could say I’m a sucker for pizza and ice cream.
I just got some of that IC because they were sampling at Hy-Vee…its good!!
ahhh, panera french onion soup is my all time fav! i’ll have to try friday’s to see how it compares :)
Panera is my favorite chain. And I have to recreate that dish this next week. Yum!
I will have to look for that new ice cream endorsed by Duff! Sounds good!
Like many of the PP’s, I LOVE P.F. Chang’s lettuce wraps. I tried your recipe — amazing! Though I was initially a bit intimidating by the lengthy ingredient list, it was totally worth it. Thanks for sharing!!
Cheesecake Factory and Texas Roadhouse!
[…] with Jason grilling shrimp, we followed this recipe to satisfy our lettuce wrap […]
I made the lettuce wraps tonight and I highly recommend them. Easy and delicious. Thank you for the new recipe.
I made the lettuce wraps for dinner tonight and they were super delicious! Easy to make (easier than I thought they would be). Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe!!
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